May 1, 2020 Notice to Lifesaving Resources authorized Water Rescue Instructors

May 01, 2020

First, the good news: due to this current crisis, we will be extending everyone’s authorization by one year.  So, if you were authorized through December 2020, your authorization will be automatically extended through December 2021.

We are investigating means by which to safely conduct training while maintaining social distancing and maintain recommendations to wear a mask to cover the mouth and nose.

We are in the process of developing an on-line program which will allow you to conduct Water Rescue Awareness courses (pre-requisite for Water Rescue Tech, Swiftwater Rescue Tech, and Ocean Rescue Tech) online for your participants.  But, until that is ready, there is no reason why you can’t conduct this training via Zoom or live, while maintaining social distancing.

According to the CDC, a properly maintained swimming pool should kill the COVID-19 virus.  According to the CDC, “there is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas.  Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.”

While there is ongoing community spread of COVID-19 of the virus that causes COVID-19, it is important for individuals as well as owners and operators of these facilities to take steps to ensure health and safety:

• Everyone should follow local and state guidance that may determine when and how recreational water facilities may operate.
• Individuals should continue to protect themselves and others at recreational water venues both in and out of the water – for example, by practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene.
• In addition to ensuring water safety and quality, owners and operators of community pools, hot tubs, spas, and water play areas should follow the interim guidance for businesses and employers for cleaning and disinfecting their community facilities.

For additional information on COVID-19 and water, please access the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html

We are currently planning on conducting our annual International Water Rescue Instructor Academy, September 10 – 13, in Portland, Maine.  This was originally scheduled for May, but had been postponed until June, and now we’re shooting for the September dates.  We are reducing the size of the Academy participation in order to maintain social distancing.  We will require the use of masks while in classroom activities.  We will be serving individual meals, rather than buffet breakfasts, lunch and dinner.  And, for practical sessions, we will be using Water Rescue adult and juvenile victims, rather than using human victims.

We have created a PARTNERS Page on our website (https://lifesaving.com/about-us/partners/) which includes a number of companies/manufacturers who have partnered with us to promote and conduct our water and ice rescue training programs.  We will be adding one, or several, water rescue manikin companies within the next 1 – 2 weeks.

We hope all our instructors and their families, as well as their colleagues in the Public Safety and Rescue Sector are remaining healthy and staying SAFE!

Gerry Dworkin
[email protected]

Lifesaving Resources
www.lifesaving.com

P.O. Box 3006  •  3 Mills Rd.
Kennebunkport, Maine (USA) 04046
207/967-8614